12 Most Memorable Christmas Songs From The Movies

Having been the king of the British rom-com as the screenwriter behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones' Diary, Richard Curtis made the move to directing with 2003's Love Actually. With its huge ensemble cast and wide variety of intertwining love stories, it set out to be the rom-com to end all rom-coms - and, thanks to its seasonal setting, became an instant Christmas favourite for many.

It also makes great use of Mariah Carey's 1994 hit single All I Want For Christmas Is You, sung live by the young Olivia Olsen - dream girl of Thomas Brodie-Sangster's Sam, who has learned the drums to perform in the school show specifically because of her.

Some of us might question whether going to such lengths for a girl is admirable, or a bit creepy and stalkerish (although, as we all know, Andrew Lincoln's character has him beaten hands down there). Still, Curtis is a master of manipulating those heartstrings, and the film certainly succeeds in making you root for the overcompensating young stud.

The adult Brodie-Sangster and Olsen would reprise their roles in Curtis' 2017 short film Red Nose Day Actually, a mini-sequel made for Comic Relief.